2019

A N N U AL
REPORT
WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
VISION
WA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME IS TO RECOGNISE, PROMOTE AND
CELEBRATE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN (WA) WOMEN

PURPOSE
The purpose of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame is to:

1. To recognise and 2. To celebrate women’s

promote the contribution contribution to WA
of women to Western through the WA
Australia Women’s Hall of Fame

3. To advance gender 4. To provide a platform for

equality through the ongoing contribution
advocacy and of the WA Women’s Hall
collaboration of Fame Alumni to the
advancement of gender
equality

WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
CHAIRS REPORT

I was honoured to continue

my role as Chair of the WA
Women’s Hall of Fame Committee
for a second year.
2018-19 has been a year of consolidation for
the Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame
as we complete our second year since we
became an incorporated organisation in 2017.
It has seen our first Annual General Meeting
in January 2019, the consolidation of our
finances and our first audit. That said, the grant
from Lotterywest for the 2019 Induction Event
was once again secured and managed by
Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services,
and we thank them for their support over a
number of years. Having now established our Women are productive citizens and public
governance processes, the application for a acknowledgment of their contribution through
Lotterywest grant for the 2020 Inductee Event The WA Hall of Fame creates a legacy of their
has been submitted by the WA Women’s Hall remarkable contribution to the West Australian
of Fame in its own right. community and society. This empowers future
citizens of the State to build on the work
The WA Women’s Hall of Fame is a flagship done, providing inspiration and role models
event of the WA International Women’s Day to support women to reach their full potential.
(IWD) celebrations in Perth. As part of the It creates aspirational goals for younger
State-wide IWD Celebrations the WA Women’s generations who may one day be inducted
Hall of Fame, honours and celebrates into the Hall of Fame.
Western Australian women who have made a
significant contribution to the State’s history, The West Australian community continues
culture and community. The recognition of to face issues related to women. For example,
women through this event encourages and two of which are the rising domestic violence
empowers the community to be progressive and the widening gender pay gap. The future
and persuasive in advancing the status of impact of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame is
women in society. far reaching , and is effective in promoting
equality and respect for women.
Other state and international Awards (e.g.
Celebrate WA, Queens Honors) continue Through this event, and the wide spread media
to receive an over representation of male (press, radio, public spaces and social) about
nominations and awardees (averaging 65%+ the WA Women’s Hall of Fame, the public
of selected nominations). The WA Women’s are educated about the contributions made
Hall of Fame highlights and promotes women’s by women and this in turn influences policies
contributions, the importance of women’s role with regards to women’s issues, and ultimately
in modern society, to ensure this imbalance contributes to a culture of respect for women.
does not continue. WA is the only state to hold
an annual event of this kind, there being no
such national event.

WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
CHAIRS REPORT
We were very pleased to work with our new
event managers, Event and Conference Co,
in organizing our functions and the
nomination process. We were delighted
to hold the inaugural event at Parliament
House to launch the nomination process.
We thank the Hon. Simone McGurk, Minister
for Women’s Interests, for her support for this
event. This prominent event led to increased
publicity for the Awards and consequently
both an increased number of nominations,
and a more diverse pool of candidates.
The Induction Ceremony was held at
Government House on Thursday 7 March.
The Governor attended the event and spoke
of the importance of the WA Women’s Hall
of Fame in recognising the key role women
play in our community. There were 15 women
inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame
in 2019, including the induction of Decima
Norman to the Role of Honour.
This year’s Inductees came from across
Western Australia, representing Arts, Culture,
Business, Community, Education, Health,
Sports and STEM. This amazing representation
of inspiring women, along with past Inductees,
is available to many organisations which
are looking to celebrate the achievements
of women in WA, as well as providing
information that can feed into the recognition
of women in other State, National and
International awards. We thank the Governor
for his support of the Presentation Ceremony
and for hosting an evening reception at
Government House to allow the inductees
to get to know each other.
Presently the Hall of Fame exists only in the
virtual world, with the achievements of these
wonderful women recognised on a website.
The Committee has for a number of years
been exploring options for a more tangible
expression of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame
and it is hoped that this will eventuate in 2020.
WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
There are currently 46 members of the Hall
of Fame made up of individual members,
community organisations and past inductees.
We will be working to increase the number
of members and provide opportunities that
enable us to grow our vision via a more
expansive alumni program and related
community projects.
Our ability to continue and grow the Hall of
Fame is made possible by the ongoing support
of our sponsors. I sincerely thank Lotterywest
and the Department for Communities for
allowing us to pay respect to and acknowledge
the important and integral role of women,
in Western Australia. We have also reached
out to other sponsors to allow us to gradually
decrease our reliance on Lotterywest funding
and a Sponsorship Prospectus has been
developed.
It is hard to believe that it is now nine years
since we announced our inaugural Women’s
Hall of Fame inductees on the centenary of
International Women’s Day in 2011. Since
then, the WA Women’s Hall of Fame has
celebrated and acknowledged 198 remarkable
and inspiring Western Australian women,
along with the many women’s groups, who
have each made significant contributions to
our State. In 2020 we will celebrate the 10th
anniversary of the Awards and we look forward
to recognising another group of ‘inspiring’
Western Australian women.
It has been a pleasure to be the Committee
Chair of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame Inc
and I would like to thank the members of the
Committee who have given their time, support
and enthusiasm over the year. I look forward
to working with them again in 2020.
Fiona Reid
2019 COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Fiona Reid – Committee Chair

Sandra Burns – Deputy Chair

Julie Ham – Secretary

Sally Plummer – Treasurer

Committee Members

Andrea Creado

Jasmyn Mumme

Emeritus Professor Magaret Nowak

Kedy Kristal

Robyn Nolan

Suzy Urbaniak

Ex Officio: Dr Elaine Dowd (Department for Communities)

2019 Event Manager – Rebecca Cole (Event & Conference Co)

Public Relations and Communications – Gina Church

WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
STRATEGIC PLAN 2018-2021

KEY RESULT AREAS

1. Annual recognition of new inductees into the Hall of Fame

Outcomes:

- Achieve strong interest and a high number of quality nominations for new Hall of Fame inductees.
- Deliver a high-profile and successful annual signature presentation ceremony at which the new
inductees are honoured.
- A robust and transparent judging process in place.

2. Community awareness and engagement about the contribution

of women to Western Australia

Outcomes:

- Enhance the website as the primary platform for WA Woman’s Hall of Fame and increase social
media engagement.
- Work towards an enduring memorial, a ‘physical manifestation’ of the Hall of Fame by 2021.
- WA Women’s Hall of Fame included in the WA School Curriculum.
- Increase the number of women nominated for WA and national awards.
- Establish collaborative relationships with other groups to promote women’s achievements
& gender equity.
- Engage with WHoF alumni as brand ambassadors, mentors and sponsors.

3. Organisational development

Outcomes:

- Develop good governance structures and processes.

- Achieve sufficient funding to hold annual event and seed fund the following year’s event.
(Also see KRA 1, outcome 2).
- Develop human resources.
- Increase membership.

WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
2019 WA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME
INDUCTION CEREMONY

An afternoon Induction Ceremony was held at Government House

Ballroom 7 March on Thursday from 5:00am to 7:00pm. Noongar Elder
Mary Taylor provided a warm and inclusive Welcome to Country and his
Excellency The Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia,
opened the ceremony. The Minister for Women’s Interests, the Honourable
Simone McGurk, assisted with the presentation of the inductee pins.
The WA Women’s Hall of Fame Facebook and Indigenous nominations, which proved
page was used as a primary means of to be successful with a third of all inductees
communication with the WA community this year being Aboriginal. There was over
and beyond www.facebook.com/ 200 media hits for this year’s campaign and a
wawomenshalloffame. This page has expanded highlight was undoubtably the coverage from
and now has a following of 1224 people. The West Australian Newspaper. On Friday 8
The focus on multicultural nominations March The West Australian Newspaper ran a
set the tone of paid and organic posts. An 2-page spread with an ‘exclusive’ photograph
emphasis was placed on video posts with of all 2019 Inductees. This was followed the
simple Facebook animations featuring diverse next day by a 6-page feature in The West
women in everyday settings. These posts were Weekend Magazine, and cover page. The 2019
key to the growth in page followers of more WA Women’s Hall of Fame created a definite
than 30% year on year. Critically, this took the buzz across media platforms (press, radio,
page over the 1,000-follower benchmark. In digital and social).
turn, this fresh plateau ensured custom videos
required relatively low budgets to meet a wide
audience. Video also proved to be a successful
approach in targeting the multicultural
community with images of ethnically diverse
women being used in all applications.

Particular emphasis was placed on integrating

the event’s publicity with online posts. Links
to radio interviews and print articles proved
to be a highly effective mechanism to boost
page followers and reinforced key messages.
As incoming Chair, I did a number of radio
interviews and the campaign was significantly
expanded to regional WA. Thanks, in particular
to Gina Church, for her work ensuring a such a
successful 2018 media campaign.

The 2018 campaign launch at Parliament

House was a great success and was well
attended by media. The launch was followed
by an intensive campaign through press
and radio, local and regional, to secure
nominations. Once again special focus was
placed on increasing the number of CaLD

WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
2019 WA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME
INDUCTEES
Frauke Bolten-Boshammer arrived in the Ord Valley in 1981 and was sadly widowed in 1984,
and then later lost their son. Despite family urging her to return to her native Germany she remained
and established Kimberley Fine Diamonds, showcasing the highly desired, rare, pink Argyle
diamonds. Her fresh look at business, coupled with European style, has added a dimension and
depth to the outback town of Kununurra . Over the ensuing two and a half decades of successful
operation, Frauke has contributed both personally and financially to numerous organisations and
events in the region. Frauke’s great resilience and tenacity have helped put Kununurra on the map,
ensuring the locally mined pink diamonds return value back into the town she has grown to love.

Alexandra Atkins was part of the first wave of female STEM mining professionals, joining
underground mining at a time when women were illegal, and taboo. After working on remote mine
sites around Australia for 15 years, and witnessing multiple mine disasters, Alex became passionate
about preventing mine tragedies and bringing about innovations which would make mining better.
It led her to change disciplines from geology to mining engineering and geotechnical engineering,
then to finance and governance becoming a mine engineer, mine manager and mining consultant
to a government regulator, and now company director. Her determination, foresight and courage
to challenge stereotypes and unconscious bias within the industry are legendary.

Anette Schoombee was raised by her mother in a small village in Namibia and attended the local
German school. She later won a merit-based scholarship and studied law at the University of
Stellenbosch. She emigrated to Perth in 1987 and joined a law firm. Anette was president of Women
Lawyers WA and throughout her career took on various roles on committees and boards and acted
as mentor to advance women in the legal profession and aid other disadvantaged groups. Anette
was one of the first female solicitors, and later partner, at a large law firm in Perth to work part-time
after the birth of her two children. She went on to become an independent barrister and Judge of the
District Court of Western Australia.

Annie Nayina Milgin is a senior Nyikina woman who is trained and qualified as an Aboriginal Health
Worker. She lives at the Jarlmadanga Burru Community in the West Kimberley where she managed
the Health Clinic until recently retiring. Beyond her role as senior health worker, Annie is a Board
member of the Sharing Stories Foundation, Director and Cultural Adviser of Walalakoo Aboriginal
Corporation the Nyikina Mangala Native Title Body Corporate and the cultural boss for Yiriman, an
Indigenous organisation that returns young people to Country with their Elders to teach them about
the stories, kinship, language and songs to which they’re traditionally connected. This determined
quiet achiever has left an indelible impact upon the health and well-being of the people in her
community.

Bronwyn Lesley Barnes works in an industry known for gender imbalance however she has forged
a successful career to become one of a handful of women leaders in the WA mining sector operating
at both a Director, and Executive level. Because of her strengths and reputation as an innovative and
dynamic leader, she was invited to take up a role on the AMEC Executive Council providing new
thinking and challenging conventional approaches. Her contributions have won her many supporters
and has seen her ideas drive strategic change. Bronwyn was recognised for her achievements when
she won the Outstanding Woman in Resources Award from the Chamber of Minerals & Energy WA
and the Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources Award 2015.

WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
2019 WA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME
INDUCTEES
Irene Stainton is passionate about protecting Aborigininal heritage and culture. She served as the
Registrar for Aboriginal Sites in WA for 7 years, has been the Chair of the WA Museum’s Aboriginal
Advisory Committee for over 21 years, is a Member of the Board of Trustees, WA Museum, and
Chairs the Aboriginal Advisory Committee with the National Trust (WA). Irene is responsible for
the State Government erecting a War Memorial in Kings Park to honour the services of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples’, established the ‘Keeping Place’ in Karrakatta Cemetery, and was
invloved with the “Bringing Them Home Report”. Throughout Irene’s life’s work, justice and the
well-being for her people has been paramount.

Violet Arrey is a Cameroon born Australian lawyer and social entrepreneur. She is the current
President of Cameroonians in WA (CAMWA) Inc, co-founder of Afritude Down Under Inc (ADU),
a member of the Police Commissioner’s multicultural women leaders’ advisory group, and of the
City of Wanneroo’s Multicultural Advisory Group. Violet was the recipient of the 2017 Junior Woman
Lawyer of the Year Award and 2015 Celebration of African-Australians Captain Award. She has
chosen to pursue her legal career by establishing her own law firm, where she can further assist
community. Violet stands as a role model for many young African-Australians and persons from
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.

Marion Fulker has played a significant role in shaping the future of both the Perth region and WA.
As CEO of the Committee for Perth, Marion led the pioneering two-year gender equality research
project ‘Filling the Pool’. The resulting report provided a roadmap of interlocking recommendations
for government, the corporate sector (and their predominately male leaders) and women too in order
to grow the participation and progression rates of women in the workforce. For the past 13-years,
Marion has worked tirelessly to provide a unified, apolitical and informed voice on Perth’s future
across a broad range of issues including the economy and mobility. Marion has also chaired statutory
authorities whose advice and decisions affect conservation outcomes in both heritage and nature.
She is a vocal advocate for reconciliation.

Prof. Rhonda Marriott is a Nyikina Woman, born in Derby, WA. She was the first Aboriginal
Head of a School of Nursing in a University when she was appointed as the Inaugural Head of
the Murdoch School of Nursing. She was also a Faculty Dean of Health Sciences, and a Pro Vice
Chancellor Faculties at Murdoch University. In 2019 she took up the role of Pro Vice Chancellor for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership, alongside being Director of the successful and newly
established Ngangk Yira Research Centre for Aboriginal Health and Social Equity. Rhonda has been
an outstanding academic and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’ through 50+
years in the nursing profession and 30+ years in the midwifery profession; and 30 years in Academia.

M’Liss Henry OAM has spent 46-years of her life driven by a single-minded passion and desire to
help both disabled, and abled persons to connect with horses. Now at 75 years of age she is just as
committed to this goal as she was when she first set up her disabled riding school in 1972. She has
created an equine learning environment that has not only has been life changing for many who have
attended, but also for the many hundreds of people who have volunteered. M’Liss was awarded an
OAM for her services to people with a disability, and community.

WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
2019 WA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME
INDUCTEES
Joyce Pamela Westrip OAM is truly an extraordinary woman, who has worked tirelessly to
promote cultural links between Australia and India, receiving an OAM in 2000. Joyce was awarded
the Commonwealth Government’s Centenary Medal in 2001 in recognition of her community
contributions. She has held positions on multiple committees, including the State Library Board, The
Festival of Perth, Indian Ocean Cultural Council, Indian Ocean Arts Festival, and Richard Wagner
Society. She was a founding member of Talking Books for the Blind and founding member of Friends
of Opera. She is a published author and continues to be an unofficial Ambassador for diverse arts
and cultures and the promotion of these cultures in WA, nationally, and internationally.

Lee Musumeci established the Early Learning Centre at Challis Community Primary School and
implemented evidence based educational techniques and approaches that resulted in the students
eventually achieving equivalent to, or better than, the State mean rating for education. She also
dreamt of having a music program, so she did what good educators do she studied and investigated
the benefits of a music education for children, to find the experts and evidence to support her vision.
She rallied people and under her leadership as Principal, they developed a program that has inspired
the nation to take up music education for all children. Lee’s efforts on so many levels have seen the
face of education in this country change possibly forever.

Dawn Wallam is a Bibbelmun Wardani woman of the Noongar nation with over 40years experience
working in the area of child protection and family support with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples’. She was the CEO of Yorganop Association Inc for over 20 years and is a past chair and life
member of SNAICC, the national voice for Indigenous children and young people; founding member
and interim Chairperson of the Noongar Child Protection Council; and was a founding signatory
of the sub group of Indigenous children to the United Nations Working Group on the Rights of the
Child. Dawn is passionate about improving the well-being of Indigenous children.

Rishelle Hume is a proud Noongar Woman with traditional ties to the Whadjuk, Ballardong and
Gnaala Karla Boodja peoples and a proud mother. She has over 25 years’ experience in Aboriginal
engagement ranging from employment, education, justice and health and has added value to
Aboriginal advancement in WA by demonstrating leadership and coordinated approaches in dealing
with State Aboriginal matters. Rishelle is a multi-award winner in recognition of her contribution to
Aboriginal communities and ‘Closing the Gap’. Rishelle is determined to make a difference, so we
no longer talk about closing the gap, as there is no gap to close!

Roll of Honour Recipient

Clara (Decima) Norman MBE was the star of the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney. She stunned the
athletics world by winning 5 gold medals, a feat yet to be equalled. At the Australian selection trials
in 1937 she won the sprint double guaranteeing selection in the Games and the same year, was
instrumental in establishing the WA Women’s Amateur Athletic Association, ultimately allowing WA
female athletes to compete nationally, and internationally. In 1939 she equalled the 100yds world
record for women. Due to WWII the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled so she was unable to
complete however in 1940 she won three gold medals at the Australian Women’s Amateur Athletics
Championships. She retired in 1948. Decima was an early pioneer for women in athletics in WA,
an incredible role model, and a humble champion who become the first Golden Girl of Athletics
in Australia. (1909 – 1983)

WA WOME N ’ S H AL L O F FAM E 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O RT
MAJOR SPONSORS

CONTACT US
Website: wawomenshalloffame.com.au
Email: wawomenshof@gmail.com

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